(a) whether tax collection has not been in commensurate
with expectation due to corruption rampant in the tax
collection machinery;
(b) the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the steps taken by the Government for improvement
in the system; and
(d) the extent of success achieved by the Government
therefrom?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI S.S. PALANIMANICKAM)
(a): The direct and indirect taxes collections have
been commensurate with the expectations of the Government.
(b): Does not arise.
(c): A number of legislative and administrative steps
have been taken to augment collection of both direct and
indirect taxes, including strategy for recovery of arrears,
strengthening of the Vigilance Directorates to deal with
corruption more effectively, appropriate action such as
suspension, initiation of disciplinary proceedings against
officials involved in corruption, identification of sensitive
posts so as to avoid posting of officers of doubtful integrity
to such posts, etc.
(d): The buoyancy in direct and indirect tax collections is
attributable to the steps taken by the Government to augment
collections.